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jules_25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thefolklorefaery's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
ranaldclouston's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading this awesomely odd collection of short stories by Argentinian author Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell . The stories are very short and unfold in dreamlike fashion and often deadpan humour, with deep undercurrents of unease, violence, and symbolism.
jaclyncrupi's review against another edition
4.0
I loved these stories and how they came together as a collection more than I thought I would (not sure why – I loved Fever Dream and perhaps lowered expectations as self protection). I hope we see more of Schweblin’s stories translated soon.
emmabeckman's review against another edition
3.0
A couple of the stories in here were real stand-outs that I’ll keep thinking about, especially the first story Headlights, but for every excellent one, there was an awful one that was just really horrendous so a 3 star is the best I can do I’m afraid. I love her bizarre, quirky mind, but it didn’t redeem any of the bad stories in this collection. I’d still pick up more of her work though.
isisiis's review against another edition
im loving this genre cause how are they making me feel sick without showing me actual bloody things or stuff like that
kumpkump's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
magis1105's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
erinlcrane's review against another edition
3.0
I read through this *very* quickly. Schweblin wrote these short stories the way I like them - weird, idea-driven, and intense. It made it really easy to get through them.
This is a 3.5 I'm rounding down because I've enjoyed her other work more. But I still had a good time, even when it felt like the story didn't amount to much.
My favorites are Headlights, Preserves, Mouthful of Birds, The Digger, The Test, Toward Happy Civilization, and On the Steppe. The earlier stories worked better for me overall than the later ones.
Ones that have stuck with me but which I have mixed feelings about are Heads Against Concrete and The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides. Heads Against Concrete includes racism that I feel a little unsure about - meaning it's not clear to me how much Schweblin actually wants me to condemn the racism. As for The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides - it feels a little too on the nose. Some of the stories feel like they present very obvious metaphors and others don't. But that will depend a lot on the reader.
I also feel like it dipped into fatphobia at times. I don't remember her other work well enough to say whether that's a trend or an exception.
But overall, this collection is doing exactly what I like short stories to do. I like to be dropped into a weird situation to make of it what I will. Some were more successful for me than others!
This is a 3.5 I'm rounding down because I've enjoyed her other work more. But I still had a good time, even when it felt like the story didn't amount to much.
My favorites are Headlights, Preserves, Mouthful of Birds, The Digger, The Test, Toward Happy Civilization, and On the Steppe. The earlier stories worked better for me overall than the later ones.
Ones that have stuck with me but which I have mixed feelings about are Heads Against Concrete and The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides. Heads Against Concrete includes racism that I feel a little unsure about - meaning it's not clear to me how much Schweblin actually wants me to condemn the racism. As for The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides - it feels a little too on the nose. Some of the stories feel like they present very obvious metaphors and others don't. But that will depend a lot on the reader.
I also feel like it dipped into fatphobia at times. I don't remember her other work well enough to say whether that's a trend or an exception.
But overall, this collection is doing exactly what I like short stories to do. I like to be dropped into a weird situation to make of it what I will. Some were more successful for me than others!